Electric detonator.



e. ALLEN. ELECTRIC DETONATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1909.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909. V

IIVVEIVTOR WITNESSES 7r whack #M A 8 u Mm H M mm To all whom it may concern.- v

' UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

GEORGE ADIN ALLEN, WESTERN SPRINGS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE AETNA POWDER. COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC DETONATOR- Specification of Letters Patent.

PatcntedOct. as. race.

Application filed ma 26,1909. Serial No. 498,405

Be it known that I, GEORGE ADIN ALLEN,

I a citizen of the United States, and a resident offlVestern Springs, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Electric Detonator, of which the following is a full,,cl ear, and exact description.

' My invention relates t'ddetonators, and more particularly to detonators of thetype operated by aid of electricity, iny morepar-.

ticular purpose being to guard the explosive materials and exclude the entrance of moisture, so as to preserve in good condition the priming and other explosive substances contained within thedetonator shell.

As is well known in this art, electric detonators and electric fuses ofvarious types have heretofore-been inclosed in copper cas ings, intended to be water proof, and under ordinary conditions these constructions have given fairly good satisfaction in their use. In practice, however, it has been noticed that when an electric detonator or fuse is sunken to a considerable depth under water, asis often done in blasting'operations, the water sometimes finds its way into the shell. Where a copper'shell and sulfur filling are employed, the entrance of the water is nearly always to be ex ected where the pressure of the water is su ciently great. The result is 7 that the priming is wet and the detonator or fuse is, in a large proportion of'instances,

unable to accomplish its work.

What I seek to do by the invention now under discussion is to provide a detonator havinga shell containing the various explosive materials, and to prevent the entrance of water into the shell. This I seek to do by inserting into the shella plastic material which retains to some extent its softness, or

at least its plastic state, so that when acted upon by water pressure it will not cleave away from the copper shell and thus permit the entrance of water thereintoa I furthermoreseek to so confine the soft or plastic material just referred to that in hot weather it will not run out of the end of the shell, and on the other hand, in'cold weather will present sufficient softness to enable it to act properly.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of\this specience indicate corresponding parts in both views, and in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective of my improved detonator complete, showing wires projecting through it in order to be connected with a source of electricity; and Fig. 2 is a longitlidlllill section through the detonator comp ete.

A metallic shell 3, preferably of copper, is provided with an annular convex bead 4 and with a tip'5, the diameter of the tip being approximately the'same as the general diameter of the shell.

At 6 isa cap of such diameter as to fit neatly over the tip 5. vided with a portion 7 of reduced diameter, and extending through this portion are insulating wires 8, 9. The cap 6 is further provided with concave portions 10 integral fication, in which similar characters of refer- The cap 6 is pro by the passing of the current in order to start the explosion desired.

At 12 is an explosive charge, which may be of the kind ordinarily used, consisting largely of fulminate of mercury.

At 13 is a priming of gun cotton or other material, usually ignited by aid of the platinum Wire'll, and in contact with the latter.

At 14: is a plug of sulfur, cast or molded about the wires 8, 9.

At, 15 is a filling, preferably of sulfur, which is poured into the shell 3'after the same-is nearly filled, and after the plug It and the wires 8, 9 are inserted. The filling is Poured in by hand or machinery, as desired, while in a molten state, and spreads out in the'inner bead 4, as indicated in Fig. 2. This holds the wires 8, 9 and certain other parts, rigidly in relation to the shell 3..

At 16 is a filling of soft plastic material,

preferably a' mixture of pitch and tar, the proportions of which may be varied within reasonable limitations, depending upon the conditions to which the detonator 18 to be subjected.

At 17 is a washer of felt, paper or other flexible material.

At 18 is a small portion of .the plastic material integral with the portion 16 thereof, and extending out into the reduced portion 7 of the cap 6.

In making the detonator the cap 6 is brought over the wires 8 and 9, the plug 14 is cast about them, and the platinum fuse 'wire 11 is soldered on to the wires 8 and 9.

posite sides thereof, so as to form the crimped portions 10, as indicated in Fig. 1. The wires 8, 9 are now water-proof and if thetip be subjected to the action of water pressure, the soft filling 1(3 prevents the entrance of the water into the shell 3. The

reason of this is that the pressure of thewater first tends to slightly contract the cap 6, and in doing this makes the portion 7 grip tightly upon the wires 8, 9, and also enables the cap 6 to hug tightly the tip 5 and upon the filling contained in ho small portion of the cap. Besides this, if any water should attempt to force its way through the cap 7 and into the filling 16, the soft plastic state of this filling merely enables it to yield slightly in excess of the pressure-in other words, to fiow a little, and in doing this it swells the same tightly, thereby excluding the entrance of water.

\Vhile I show the cap 7, and preferably use it, I do not wish to be limited thereto except as specified in my claims; neither do I limit myself to the particular construction of the shell 3, or to the character of. the explosives used therein, nor to any use or purpose to which the detonator is employed.

While, as above stated, the filling 15 is made of sulfur, I intend thatfillings made of {her ma u'ials may be employed. I do not wish to be limited to the use in all instances of a soft filling in connection with a hard filling, for the reasonthat details of this kind may be varied within reasonable limits without departing from the spirit of .y invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat eat is, i

1. In a detonator, the combinationof a metallic shell provided with a bead, explosives disposed within said shell, meansfor firing said explosives, a hard filling disposed Within said shell for the purpose of protecting said explosives, a soft filling disposed within said shell and engaging said hard fillin a cap encirclinga portion of said shell and also encircling said soft filling, and means for retaining said soft filling in position.

2. In a detonator, the combination of a shell, explosives disposed within said shell, a hard filling disposed within said shell for protecting said explosives, a soft filling disposed within said shell and engaging said hard filling, electric wires extending through said softfilling and through said hard filling, mechanism connected with said electric wires for firing said explosives, and a cap encircling a portion of said shell and also encircling a portion of said wires, said cap being crimped fo the purpose of rendering it water proof relative to the said Wires.

3. A detonator, comprising a shell provided with a bead and with a tip extending beyond said bead, acap fitted upon said tip and engaging said head which serves as a limiting stop therefor, insulated wires extending through said cap and into said shell,

said cap being crimped around said wires.

and a filling disposed within said tip and partly within said cap, said filling being of plastic material for the purpose of rendering said shell water-proof. I

4-. In a detonator, the combination of a shell provided with a tip, a cap fitting upon said t p and provided with a reduced portion, wires extending through said reduced portion and into said shell for the purpose of igniting or firing the explosives therein, a filling of soft material disposed within said tip. and connected tightly around said wires, said filling extending out flush with the end of said cap, said cap being crimped tightly around said wires, and a small portion of plastic material disposed intermediate said wires.

5. In a detonator, the combination of a shell adapted to hold explosives, a member for igniting the same, a cap fitting upon said shell, and electric wires leading through said I cap and into said shell, said cap being crimped for the purpose of (preventing the entrance of Water'around sai Wire's.

6. The combination of a shell, a cap fitted upon said shell, explosive materials disposed within said shell, a member mounted within said shell for the purpose of igniting said explosive materials, and wires extending through said cap to sald member for the purpose of energizing the same, said cap being crimped separately around each of said wires for the purpose of excluding the entrance of moisture. g y

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE ADIN ALLEN.

Witnesses: R. J. WARREN, M. F, GERAGHTIL 

